Letters from the Baptist Annual Register, 1790-1792, relating to George Liele and Others in Savannah and Jamaica

Letters below are taken from John Rippon's Baptist Annual Register, vol. 1, 1790-93, pp. 332-38: “An Account of several Baptist Churches, consisting chiefly of Negro Slaves: particularly of one at Kingston, in Jamaica; and another at Savannah in Georgia.”

         A Letter from the late Rev. Mr. Joseph Cook of the Euhaw, upper Indian Land, South Carolina, bearing date Sept. 15, 1790, says, “A poor negro, commonly called, among his own friends, Brother George, has been so highly favoured of God, as to plant the first Baptist Church in Savannah, and another in Jamaica”: This account produced an earnest desire to know the circumstances of both these societies. Hence letters were written to the Rev. Mr. Cook, at the Euhaw; to Mr. Jonathan Clarke, at Savannah; to Mr. Wesley’s people in Kingston; with a view to obtain information, in which particular regard was had to the character of this poor but successful minister of Christ. Satisfactory accounts have been received from each of these quarters, and a letter from brother George himself, containing an answer to more than fifty questions proposed in a letter to him: We presume to give an epitome of the whole to our friends, hoping that they will have the goodness to let a plain unlettered people convey their ideas in their own simple way.

         Brother George’s words are distinguished by inverted commas, and what is not so marked, is either matter compressed or information received from such persons to whom application has been made for it.

         George Liele, called also George Sharp because his owner’s name was Sharp, in a letter dated Kingston, Dec. 18, 1791, says, “I was born in Virginia, my father’s name was Liele, and my mother’s name Nancy; I cannot ascertain much of them, and at length resided in New Georgia; but was informed both by white and black people, that my father was the only black person who knew the Lord in a spiritual way in that country: I always had a natural fear of God from my youth, and was often checked in conscience with thoughts of death, which barred me from many sins and bad company. I knew no other way at that time to hope for salvation but only in the performance of my good works.” About two years before the late war, “the Rev. Mr. Matthew Moore,* one Sabbath afternoon, as I stood with curiosity to hear him, [333] he unfolded all my dark views, opened my best behaviour and good works to me, which I thought I was to be saved by, and I was convinced that I was not in the way to heaven, but in the way to hell. This state I laboured under for the space of five or six months. The more I heard or read, the more I saw that I “was condemned as a sinner before God; till at length I was brought to perceive that my life hung by a slender thread, and if it was the will of God to cut me off at that time, I was sure I should be found in hell, as sure as God was in heaven. I saw my condemnation in my own heart, and I found no way wherein I could escape the damnation of hell, only through the merits of my dying Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; which caused me to make intercession with Christ, for the salvation of my poor immortal soul; and I full well recollect, I requested of my Lord and Master to give me a work, I did not care how mean it was, only to try and see how good I would do it.” When he became acquainted with the method of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, he soon found relief, particularly at a time when he was earnestly engaged in prayer; yea, he says, “I felt such love and joy as my tongue was not able to express. After this I declared before the congregation of believers the work which God had done for my soul, and the same minister, the Rev. Matthew Moore, baptized me, and I continued in this church about four years, till the vacuation” of Savannah by the British.[1] When Mr. Liele was called by grace himself, he was desirous of promoting the felicity of others. One who was an eye-witness of it, says, That he began to discover his love to other negroes, on the same plantation with himself, by reading hymns among them, encouraging them to sing, and sometimes by explaining the most striking parts of them. His own account is this, “Desiring to prove” the sense I had of “my obligations to God, I endeavoured to instruct” the people of “my own colour in the word of God: the white brethren seeing my endeavours, and that the word of the Lord seemed to be blessed, gave me a call at a quarterly meeting to preach before the congregation.” Afterwards Mr. Moore took the sense of the church concerning brother Liele’s abilities, when it appeared to be their unanimous opinion, “that he was possessed of ministerial gifts,” and, according to the custom which obtains in some of the American churches, he was licensed as a probationer. He now exercised at different plantations, especially on those Lord’s Day evenings when there was no service performed in the church to which he belonged; and preached “about three years at Brunton [334] land, and at Yamacraw,” which last place is about half a mile from Savannah. Mr. Henry Sharp, his master, being a deacon of the church which called George Liele to the work of the ministry, some years before his death gave him his freedom, only he continued in the family till his master’s exit. Mr. Sharp in the time of the war was an officer, and was at last killed in the king’s service, by a ball which shot off his hand. The author of this account handled the bloody glove, which he wore when he received the fatal wound. Some persons were at this time dissatisfied with George’s liberation, and threw him into prison, but by producing the proper papers he was released; his particular friend in this business was Colonel Kirkland. “At the vacuation of the country I was partly obliged to come to Jamaica, as an indented servant, for money I owed him, he promising to be my friend in this country. I was landed at Kingston, and by the colonel’s recommendation to general Campbell, the governor of the Island, I was employ’d by him two years, and on his leaving the island, he gave me a written certificate from under his own hand of my good behaviour. As soon as I had settled Col. Kirkland’s demand on me, I had a certificate of my freedom from the vestry and governor, according to the act of this Island. I began, about September 1784, to preach in Kingston, in a small private house, to a good smart congregation, and I formed the church with four brethren from America besides myself, and the preaching took very good effect with the poorer sort, especially the slaves. The people at first persecuted us both at meeting and baptisms, but, God be praised, they seldom interrupt us now. We have applied to the Honourable House of Assembly, with a petition of our distresses, being poor people, desiring to worship Almighty God according to the tenets of the Bible, and they have granted us liberty, and given us their sanction. Thanks be to God we have liberty to worship him as we please in Kingston. You ask about those who,” in a judgment of charity, “have been converted to Christ. I think they are about four hundred and fifty. I have baptized four hundred in Jamaica. At Kingston I baptized in the sea, at Spanish Town in the river, and at convenient places in the country. We have nigh three hundred and fifty members; a few white people among them one white brother of the first battalion of royals, from England, baptized by Rev. Thomas Davis. Several members have been dismissed to other churches, and [335] twelve have died. I have sent enclosed” an account of “the conversion and death of some. A few of Mr. Wesley’s people, after immersion, join us and continue wth us. We have, together with well wishers and followers, in different parts of the country, about fifteen hundred people. We receive none into the church without a few lines from their owners of their good behaviour towards them and religion. The creoles of the country, after they are converted and baptized, as God enables them, prove very faithful. I have deacons and elders, a few; and teachers of small congregations in the town and country, where convenience suits them to come together; and I am pastor. I preach twice on the Lord’s Day, in the forenoon and afternoon, and twice in the week, and have not been absent six Sabbath Days since I formed the church in this country. I receive nothing for my services; I preach, baptize, administer the Lord’s Supper, and travel from one place to another to publish the gospel, and to settle church affairs, all freely. I have one of the chosen men, whom I baptized a deacon of the church, and a native of this country, who keeps the regulations of church matters; and I promoted a Free School for the instruction of the children, both free and slave, and he is the schoolmaster.

         “I cannot justly tell what is my age, as I have no account of the time of my birth, but I suppose I am about forty years old. I have a wife and four children. My wife was baptized by me in Savannah, at Brunton land, and I have every satisfaction in life from her. She is much the same age as myself. My eldest son is nineteen years, my next son seventeen, the third fourteen, and the last child, a girl of eleven years; they are all members of the church. My occupation is a farmer, but as the seasons, in this part of the country, are uncertain, I also keep a team of horses, and waggons for the carrying goods from one place to another, which I attend to myself, with the assitance of my sons; and by this way of life have gained the good will of the public, who recommend me to business, and to some very principal work for government.

         “I have a few books, some good old authors and sermons, and one large bible that was given me by a gentleman: a good many of our members can read, and are all desirous to learn; they will be very thankful for a few books to read on Sundays and other days.

         “The last accounts I had from Savannah were, that the Gospel had taken very great effect both there and in South Carolina. Brother Andrew Bryan, a black minister at Savannah, has two hundred members, in full fellowships and had certificates from their owners of one hundred more, who had given in their experiences and were ready to be baptized. Also I received accounts from Nova Scotia of a black Baptist preacher, Brother David George, who was a member of the church at Savannah; he had the permission of the governor to preach in three provinces; his members in full communion were then sixty, white and black, the Gospel spreading. Brother Amos is at Providence, he writes me that the Gospel has taken good effect, and is spreading greatly; he has about three hundred members. Brother Jessy Gaulfing, another black minister, preaches near Augusta, in South Carolina, at a place where I used to preach; he was a member of the church at Savannah, and has sixty members; and a great work is going on there.

         “I agree to election, redemption, the fall of Adam, regeneration, and perseverance, knowing the promise is to all who endure, in grace, faith, and good works to the end, shall be saved.

         “There is no Baptist church in this country but ours. We have purchased a piece of land, at the east end of Kingston, containing three acres, for the sum of 155£** currency, and on it have begun a meeting-house fifty-seven feet in length by thirty-seven in breadth. We have raised the brick wall eight feet high from the foundation, and intend to have a gallery. Several gentlemen, members of the house of assembly, and other gentlemen, have subscribed towards the building about 40£. The chief part of our congregation are slaves, and their owners allow them, in common, but three or four bits per week*** for allowance to feed themselves; and out of so small a sum we cannot expect any thing that can be of service from them; if we did it would soon bring a scandal upon religion; and the free people in our society are but poor, but they are all willing, both free and slaves, to do what they can. As for my part, I am too much entangled with the affairs of the world to go on,” as I would, “with my design, in supporting the cause: this has, I acknowledge, been a great hindrance to the Gospel in one way; but as I have endeavoured to set a good example” of industry “before the inhabitants of the land, it has given general satisfaction another way. – And, Rev. Sir, we think the Lord has put it in the power of the Baptist societies in England to help and assist us in completing this building, which we look upon will be the greatest undertaking every was in this country for [337] the bringing of souls from darkness into the light of the Gospel. – And as the Lord has put it into your heart to enquire after us, we place all our confidence in you, to make our cicumstances known to the several Baptist churches in England; and we look upon you as our father, friend, and brother.

         “Within the brick wall we have a shelter, in which we worship, until our building can be accomplished.

         “Your --- letter was read to the church two or three times, and did create a great deal of love and warmness throughout the whole congregation, who shouted for joy and comfort, to think that the Lord had been so gracious as to satisfy us in this country with the very same religion with --- our beloved brethren in the old country, according to the scriptures; and that such a worthy ---- of London, should write in so moving a manner to such poor worms as we are. And I beg to say, That the whole congregation sang out that they would, through the assistance of God, remember you in their prayers. They altogether give their Christian love to you, and all the worthy professors of Jesus Christ in your church at London, and beg the prayers of your congregation, and the prayers of the churches in general, wherever it pleases you to make known our circumstances. I remain with the utmost love --- Rev. Sir, your unworthy fellow-labourer, servant, and brother in Christ.

                                             George Liele.

P. S. We have chosen twelve trustees, all of whom are members of our church, whose names are specified in the title; the title proved and recorded in the secretary’s office of this island.

         I would have answered your letter much sooner, but am encumbered with business: the whole island under arms; several of our members and a deacon were obliged to be on duty; and I being trumpeter to the troop of horse in Kingston, am frequently called upon. And also by order of government I was employed in carrying all the cannon that could be found lying about this part of the country. This occasioned my long delay, which I beg you will excuse.” [338]

* Mr. Moore was an ordained Baptist minister, of the county of Burke, in Georgia; he died, it seems some time since. Editor.

** 140£ currency is 100£ sterling.

*** A bit is seven-pence halfpenny currency, or about five-pence halfpenny sterling.

To the Rev. Mr. John Rippon.

Kingston in Jamaica, Nov. 26, 1791.

Reverend Sir,

         The perusal of your letter of the 15th July last, gave me much pleasure – to find that you had interested yourself to serve the glorious cause Mr. Liele is engaged in. He has been for a considerable time past very zealous in the ministry; but his congregation being chiefly slaves, they had it not in their power to support him, therefore he has been obliged to do it from his own industry; this has taken a considerable part of his time and much of his attention from his labours in the ministry: however, I am led to believe that it has been of essential service to the cause of GOD, for his industry has set a good example to his flock, and has put it out of the power of enemies to religion to say, that he has been eating the bread of idleness, or lived upon the poor slaves. The idea that too much prevails here amongst the masters of slaves is, that if their minds are considerably enlightened by religion or otherwise, that it would be attended with the most dangerous consequences; and this has been the only cause why the Methodist ministers and Mr. Liele have not made a greater progress in the ministry amongst the slaves. Alas! how much is it to be lamented, that a full Quarter of a Million of poor souls should so long remain in a state of nature; and that masters should be so blind to their own interest as not to know the difference between obedience inforced by the lash of the whip and that which flows from religious principles. Although I much admire the general doctrine preached in the Methodist church, yet I by no means approve of their discipline set up by Mr. Wesley, that reverend man of God. I very early saw into the impropriety of admitting slaves into their societies without permission of their owners, and told them the conequences that would attend it; but they rejected my advice, and it has not only prevented the increase of their church, but has raised them many enemies. Mr. Liele has very wisely acted a different part. He has, I believe, admitted no slaves into society but those who had obtained permission from their owners, by which he has made many friends; and I think the Almighty is now opening a way for another church in the capital, where the Methodists could not gain any ground: a short time will determine it, of which I shall advise you. – I really have not time to enter so fully on this subject as I wish, being very much engaged in my own temporal [339] affairs, and at present having no clerk. – The love I bear to the cause of God, and the desire I have of being any ways instrumental to the establishing of it in this land of darkness, has led me to write this: but before I conclude, I have some very interesting particulars to lay before you. – Mr. Liele has by the aid of his congregation and the assistance of some few people, raised the walls of a church ready to receive the roof, but has not the means to lay it on and finish it: nor do I see any prospect of its going further, without he receives the aid of some religious institution from home. One hundred and fifty pounds, I think would complete it; and if this sum could be raised, it would greatly serve the cause of GOD, and might be the means of bringing many hundred souls, who are now in a state of darkness, to the knowledge of our great Redeemer. If this could be raised, the sooner the better. Our family contributed towards the purchase of the Methodist chapel; nor shall our mite be wanting to forward this work if it meets with any encouragement from home. – I am a stranger to you, but you may know my character from Daniel Shea, Esq; and John Parker, Esq; merchants in your city; or from Mr. Samuel Yockney, tea-dealer, in Bedford Row.

         Perhaps you may expect me to say something of Mr Liele’s character. He is a very industrious man – decent and humble in his manners, and, I think, a good man. This is my opinion of him. I love all Christians of every denomination; and remain, with respect and sincere regard,

                                 Reverend sir,

                                             Your friend and servant,

                                                         Stephen Cooke.

From the Baptist Annual Register, vol. 1, 1790-93, pp. 339-44. “Sketch of the Black Baptist Church at Savannah, in Georgia; and of their Minister Andrew Bryan, extracted from several Letters.”

Savannah, July 19, 1790, &c.

Dear Brother,

         With pleasure I received your favour of the 20th ult. More particularly, as I trust the correspondence may be of use to Brother Andrew’s church; concerning the origin of which, I have taken from him the following account. [340]

         “Our Brother Andrew was one of the black hearers of George Liele,” of whom an account was given before; “and was hopefully converted by his preaching from chapter iii. of St. John’s Gospel, and a clause of verse 7, Ye must be born again: prior to the departure of George Liele for Jamaica, he came up from Tybee river, where departing vessels frequently lay ready for sea, and baptized our Brother Andrew, with a wench of the name of Hagar, both belonging to Jonathan Bryan, Esq; these were the last performances of our Brother Geoge Liele in this quarter. About eight or nine months after his departure, Andrew began to exhort his black hearers, with a few whites. Edward Davis, Esq; indulged him and his hearers to erect a rough building on his land, at Yamacraw, in the suburbs of Savannah, for a place of worship, of which they have been very artfully dispossessed. In this their beginning of worship they had frequent interruptions from the whites; as it was at a time that a number of blacks had absconded, and some had been taken away by the British. This was a plausible excuse for their wickedness in the interruptions. The whites grew more and more inveterate; taking numbers of them before magistrates – they were imprisoned and whipped. Sampson, a Brother of Andrew, belonging to the same master, was converted about a year after him, and continued with him in all their persecutions, and does until now. These, with many others, were twice imprisoned, and about fifty were severely whipped, particularly Andrew, who was cut, and bled abundantly,” while he was under their lashes: Brother Hambleton says, he held up his hands, and told his persecutors that he rejoiced not only to be whipped, but would freely suffer death for the cause of Jesus Christ. “The chief justice Henry Osborne, Esq; James Habersham, Esq;* and David Montague, Esq; were their examinants, and released them. Their kind master also interceded for them; and was much affected and grieved at their punishment.” Brother Hambleton was also an advocate for them; and further says, that at one of their examinations George Walton, Esq; spoke freely in favour of the sufferers; saying, that such treatment would be condemned even among barbarians. “The chief justice Osborne then gave them liberty to continue their worship any time between sun-rising and sun-set; and their indulgent master told the magistrates, that he would give them the liberty of his own house or his barn, at [341] a place called Brampton, about three miles from town, and that they should not be interrupted in their worship. In consequence hereof, they made use of their master’s barn, where they had a number of hearers, with little or no interruption, for about two years. During the time of worship at Brampton, Brother Thomas Burton, an elderly Baptist preacher, paid them a visit, examined and baptized about eighteen blacks: at another period while there, they received a visit from our Brother Abraham Marshall,**, who examined and baptized about forty, and gave them two certificates from under his hand;” copies of which follow:

This is to certify, that upon examination into the experiences and characters of a number of Ethiopians, at and adjacent to Savannah, it appears that God has brought them out of darkness into the light of the Gospel, and given them fellowship one with the other: believing it is the will of Christ, we have constituted them a church of Jesus Christ, to keep up his worship and ordinances.                        

A. MARSHALL, V. D. M.

* The Rev. Mr. George Whitefield’s intimate friend.

** I have not the honour of a correspondence with this respectable minister, but his name, I perceive, stands thus in the Georgia Association of 1788. At “Kioka, Abraham Marshall 23 baptized, 230” members in all. Editor. [John Rippon.]

January 19, 1788.

“After the death of their master, his son, Dr. William Bryan, generously continued them the use of the barn for worship, until the estate was divided among the family. Our Brother Andrew, by consent of parties, purchased his freedom, bought a lot at Yamacraw, and built a residence near the dwelling house which their master had given Sampson liberty to build on his lot; and which has ever been made use of for worship. But by the division of their master’s estate, the lot [342] whereon Sampson had built a house to live in, and which till this time continues to be used for worship, by Andrew, fell into the hands of an attorney, who married a daughter of the deceased Mr. Bryan, and receives no less than 12£ a year for it. Sampson serves as a clerk, but frequently exhorts in the absence of his brother, who has his appointments in different places of worship.

         “Brother Andrew’s account of his number in full communion is two hundred and twenty-five, and about three hundred and fifty have been received as converted followers, many of whom have not permission” from the owners “to be baptized. – The whole number is judged to be about five hundred and seventy-five, from the town’s being taken to this present July. I have consulted brother Hambleton, who thinks they have need of a few Bibles, the Baptist Confession of Faith, and Catechism; Wilson on Baptism, some of Bunyan’s works, or any other that your wisdom may think useful to an illiterate people. They all join in prayers for you and yours, and beg your intercession at the throne of grace for them, as well as for the small number of whites that dwell here; and among them I hope you will not forget your poor unworthy brother, and believe me, with sincere affection and brotherly love, yours in the bonds of the Gospel,

                                             JONATHAN CLARKE.*

         Concerning the church at Savannah, the late Rev. Mr. Joseph Cook, of the Euhaw, upper Indian land, thus writes: “From the inclosed you will see how they became a church, and what they have suffered, which is extremely affecting; but they now begin to rise from obscurity, and to appear great. I have some acquaintance with their pastor, and have heard him preach; his gifts are small, but he is clear in the grand doctrines of the gospel. – I believe him to be truly pious, and he has been the instrument of doing more good among the poor slaves than all the learned doctors in America.”

         The friends of our adorable Redeemer will, no doubt, rejoice to find that this large body of Christian negroes, under the patronage of some of the most respectable persons in their city, “have opened a subscription for the erecting a place of worship in the city of Savannah, for the society of black people of the Baptist denomination – the property to be vested in [343] the hands of seven or more persons in trust for the church and congregation.”

         Their case** is sent to England, recommended by

                     J. Johnson***, Minister of the Union Church.

                     John Hamilton.

                     Ebenezer Hills.

                     Joseph Watts.

                     D. Moses Vallotton.

                     John Millene.

                     Abraham Leggett.

* The character of Mr. Jonathan Clarke may be known at May Hill’s, merchants, Church-row, Fenchurch-street [London].

** It is committed to the care of the Editor [John Rippon].

*** The Rev. Mr. Johnson is well known in London; he sailed for America in the fall of 1790; and labours in the Orphan House in Savannah, built by Mr. Whitefield, and assigned in trust to the countess of Huntingdon. On May 30, 1775, the Orphan House building caught fire, and was entirely consumed, except the two sings which are still remaining. Editor.

         Since the preceding account has been in the press, other letters have been received, of which the following is an extract.

Kingston, Jamaica, May 18, 1792.

Rev. and dear Sir,

         In answer to yours I wrote 18th December last, and as I have not received a line from you since, I send this, not knowing but the other was miscarried. Mr. Green has called upon me, and very kindly offered his service to deliver a letter from me into your hands; he also advised me to send you a copy of our church covenant, which I have done: being a collection of some of the principal texts of scripture which we observe, both in America and this country, for the direction of our practice. It is read once a month here on sacrament meetings, that our members may examine if they live according to all those laws which they professed, covenanted, and agreed to; by this means our church is kept in scriptural subjection. As I observed in my last, the chiefest part of our society are poor illiterate slaves, some living on sugar estates, some on mountains, pens and other settlements, that have no learning, no not to know so much as a letter in the book; but the reading this covenant, once a month, when all are met together from the different parts of the island, keeps them in mind of the commandments of God. And by shewing the same to the gentlemen of the legislature the justices, and magistrates, when I applied for a sanction, [344] it gave them general satisfaction; and whenever a negro servant is to be admitted, their owners, after the perusal of it, are better satisfied. We are this day raising the roof on the walls of our meeting-house; the height of the wall from the foundation is seventeen feet. I have a right to praise God, and glorify him for the manifold blessings I have received, and do still receive from him. I have full liberty from Spanish Town, the capital of this country, to preach the Gospel throughout the island: the Lord is blessing the work every where, and believers are added daily to the church. My tongue is not able to express the goodness of the Lord. As our meeting-house is out of the town” (about a mile and a half), “I have a steeple on it, to have a bell to give notice to our people, and more particularly to the owners of slaves that are in our society, that they may know the hour on which we meet, and be satisfied that their servants return in due time; for which reason I shall be greatly obliged to you to send me out, as soon as possible, a bell that can be heard about two miles distance, with the price. I have one at present, but it is rather small. The slaves may then be permitted to come and return in due time, for at present we meet very irregular, in respect to hours. I remain, with the utmost regard, love, and esteem,

                                 Rev. Sir, yours, &c.

                                             George Liele.

Copy of a Recommendatory Letter of Hannah Williams, a Negro Woman, in London. It is all in print, except the Part of it whch now appears in Italics.

Kingston, Jamaica. We that are of the Baptist Religion, being separated from all churches, excepting they are of the same faith and order after Jesus Christ, according to the scriptures, do certify, that our beloved Sister Hannah Williams, during the time she was a member of the church at Savannah, until the vacuation, did walk as a faithful well-behaved Christian, and do recommend her to join any church of the same faith and order. Given under my hand this 21st day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1791.

                                                         GEORGE LIELE.

[1] 1781.